Re: Does Startup Disk Creator save settings and files?

CS, it looks pretty good until I start looking at the system requirements. Even in Ubuntu's documentation, the recommended drive space is 5GB. Since I'm using a 4GB flash drive, perhaps I should go with a smaller distro. My first choices are Xubuntu or Lubuntu because I'd like to stick with the Ubuntu/Debian base. I guess I could go with a minimal install and build up from there.

Re: Does Startup Disk Creator save settings and files?

I have the previous method working on a 4GB flash drive but the following is probably a little more reasonable.
I haven't tried Lubuntu yet but have only heard good things, I think I will try it right now.

Turn off and unplug the computer. (See note at bottom)
Remove the side from the case.
Unplug the power cable from the hard drive.
Plug the computer back in.
Insert the flash drive.
Insert the Live CD.
Start the computer, the CD should boot.
Select language
Select install Ubuntu.
Select Download updates while installing and Select Install this third-party software.
Forward
At "Allocate drive space" select "Specify partitions manually (advanced)".
Forward
Confirm Device is correct.
Select "New Partition Table" click Continue on the drop down.
Click "free space" and then "Add".
Select "Primary", "New partition size ..." = ~4 GB, Beginning, Ext4, and Mount point = "/" then OK.
(Importent)
Confirm "Device for boot loader installation" points to the USB drive. Default should be ok if HDD was unplugged.
Click "Install Now".
Select your location.
Forward.
Select Keyboard layout.
Forward.
Insert your name, username, password, computer name and select if you want to log in automatically or require a password.
Selecting "Encrypt my home folder" is a good option if you are woried about loosing your USB drive.
Select forward.
Wait until install is complete.
Turn off computer and plug in the HDD.
Stick the side panel back on.

Note:
You may omit disabling the hard drive if after partitioning you choose to install grub to the root of the usb drive you are installing Ubuntu to, (ie sdb not sdb1). Be cautious, many people have overwritten the HDD MBR.
At boot you will then be given the option to boot your computer's hard drive, even when booting another computer.

Re: Does Startup Disk Creator save settings and files?

I ran mint9 [ubuntu 10.04] installed on a 8g flash drive for about a month on a notebook with a bad hdd
I just did the install straight to the flash, as if it were any other hdd & let the install use the entire thing
I was using 6g for just programs & downloads, all my data music, pics... being stored on a 250g ntfs formatted exhdd [backup]
the set up worked reasonably well
Firefox was noticeably slow
chrome worked well

I also played around with puppy linux, which also worked fine & had a footprint of 2g

once I figured to have downloads go on the exhdd, no issues with space

using a usb is great way to do an extended test drive, better than a live cd
it allows you to play around with all your favorite apps